Automatic control device



Nov. 28, 1961 .1. c. MELLINGER AUTOMATIC CONTROL DEVICE Filed May s1,196C HAP/UAUMA/cf Mann/wam I E W. Y R .m H m E ,0 a N d m .im E 4 .fwd.MM WM MH M/ W ww M w H W /J E w L w 5 m y 5 w M 0 W M @m lc /5 Ml;wfmhnl I I H H m C 0h m m o 'Kaw I R A A; a Q 2 Z f n n@ naif w W 4 N @H/U ./u U Mu w U jg m L M w @M M A M um United States Patent Oiiice3,011,079 `Patented Nov. 28, 1961 3,011,079 AUTOMATIC CONTROL DEVICEJohn C. Melliuger, Newton, Iowa, assigner to The Maytag Company, Newton,Iowa, a corporation of Delaware t Filed May 31, 1960, Ser. No. 32,881Claims. (Cl. 307-141.4)

matic washing machine control.

lt is an object of the present invention t-o provide a selection systemby which the operator of `an automatic washing machine merely pushes abutton in order to select a cycle, or a group of operations, suitablefor the fabrics to be treated. It is another object of the invention toprovide a selection device that utilizes cam controls and therebysimplifies the control system. It is yet another object of the inventionto provide a selection control device that is inexpensivelymanufactured, and is, at the same time, reliable in service. IFurtherobjects 4and advantages of this invention will become evident `as thedescription proceeds and from an eX- amination of the accompanyingdrawing which illustrates one embodiment of the invention and in whichsimilar numerals refer to similar` parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a diagram illustrating the selection trol of the presentinvention. t

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of one of the cams.

Referring now to FIGURE l in the drawing, there is selector showndiagrammatioally a timing cam stack 10 for controlling the cycles ofoperation in any automatic washing machine. The usual cycles ofoperation include washing, rinsing and spin drying of the fabrics to becleaned. The cam stack 10 is driven by a timing motor 12at a slow normaltiming speed. When the cam stack is under the control of the timermotor, rthe washing machine is operated through the usual washingcycles.

In order t-o accomplish selection of any specific cycle, the cam stack10 is advanced at high speeds by the rapid advance motor 13. When therapid advance motor is energized, the shaft 15, to which are connectedthe timer motor 12 kand cam stack 10, is rotated at high speeds throughthe advance motor, rotor 14 and gear box 16. The speed of the shaft 15when rotatedsby the advance motor is high enough `in order that ytheoperations controlled by the cam stack 10 are effectively and quicklyselected. i f n The rotor armature 14 of the advance motor is capable ofyrotary and translatorypmovement, and is normally biased by coil spring18 along its longitudinal axis away from the gear box 16. When 'theadvance motor is energized, the rotor moves toward the gearbox 16 asindicated by the arrow, so that the pinion 19 mounted on the rotor shaftengages ,and drives the gear train to spin shaft `15 at a high speed.However, when the rapid advance motor -13 is de-energized, spring'18separates the gear 19 from the gear train and the rotation of the shaft15 Vis immediately discontinued. A n i p Contact 230i switch 21` ismounted kon amovable f into two groups.

contact 23 against contact 22 to supply power tothe advance mot-orthrough the selection switches until 1t moves to the desired position,as hereinafter described.`

Energization of timer motor 12 and advance motor 13 is controlled byswitch 2'1 having contacts 22, 23 and 24. When co-ntacts 22 and 23 ofswitch 21 are closed, a circuit is completed for energizing the advancemotor 13, providing the switches in series with contact 22, 23 are alsoclosed, -as will be described hereinafter. If contacts 23, 24 of switch21 are closed the timer motor 12 is energized by completing a circuitto'power lines L1 and L2. y

Terminal 31 of advance motor 13 is connected to line L1 of the powersource. Terminal 30 of the advance motor is connected to line L2 of thepower source through contacts 22, 23 and the other switches in `theselection system to be described hereinafter. Timer motor 12 hasterminals 33, 34 of which yterminal 33 is directly connected to powerline L1 and terminal 34 is connected to power line L2 when the circuitis completed through closing of contacts 23, 24.

The selection system of the invention is characterized by a number ofcams which control corresponding cam switches. The cams of the selectordevice, and the respective switches which they control, may be dividedIn the first group is the master cam 40 and the switch i40(a) controlledby it. The second group includes slave cams 41y to 45 and theircorresponding slave switches 41(11) to 45(a). The slave group mayinclude a greater or lesser number, depending upon the desired number ofselection positions in the washing machine operation. In order toillustrate the invention, tive selection positions are shown the pushbutton preselection of which are yobtained by five slave circuitscontaining slave switches 41(a) to 45(a).

Master cam switch y40(a) is normally closed except for a small incrementof time at the beginning of each desired cycle. When the master camswitch 4001) is closed and contact 23 is against contact 22 of switch2K1, the advance motor is energized by circuit from L2 switch contacts23, 22, master cam switch 40(a), and

advance moto-r terminal 30. IThe other terminal 31 of t the advancemotor is connected to power line L1.

Slave `cam switches 41(a) `and 45(a) are normally open, except oneswitch is closed 'at a time for a small increment at the beginning ofeach desired cycle corresponding to the incrementat which the master camswitch 40(61) is opened. It will be noted that the rise on each of slavecams 141 to 45 corresponds to a dwell on master cam 40,`so that, whenthe master cam switch 400i) is opened, one of the slave cam switches41(a)- to 45(4) will be closed.

Pushbutton switches 41(b) to 45(b) are normally closed. The push buttonswitches `are manually operated lby their own push buttons 41(c) to45(c) each of which bears the legend of a particularcycle selection.

Each of the slave cam switches 4101) yto 45(a), is connected in serieswith its respective push button switch, 41(b) to 450)), between switchContact 22 and advance motor terminal 3l). When switch Contact 23engages contact 22 of switch 21, and `slave cam switch 41(a) is closed,the advance motor is energized by a circuit from power line L2, switchcontacts 23, 22, slave cam switch `43M), push button switch 41(b) andterminal 30 of advance motor 13.'y The other terminal 31 of the'advancespring arm engaged lby pin 25 of the rotor1`4. `It will n be noted'thatthe rotor is biased by spring 18 to normally position contact 23 againstcontacty24, soas to energize the timer motor 12. In the eventtheadvancev motor is energized, rotorr 14 moves toward the gear box toclosemotor is connectedv to power line L1. Similarly', each of the slave camswitches will energize the advance motor taining a slave switch and pushbutton switch in series) is in parallel to the master cam switch 40(11).The ren sult is that the rapid advance motor will be energized if anyslave switch circuit, or the master switch circuit is completed,provided contacts 23, 22 of switch 21 are closed.

The advance motor will be de-energized at the point in the cycle atwhich'the corresponding slave switch is closed, and the master camswitch open. By way of illus tration, if push butt-on switch 4:1(b) isopened, as shown in the drawing, and the advance motor 13 is energizedclosing vcontacts 23, 22, the advance motor will continue to rotate theselector cams 4i) to 45 until the interval at which the master camswitch 4001) is opened and the slave cam'switch 4501) is closed by theirrespectivev cams. At this point, the advance motor will be de-energizedsince the power circuit to the advance motor is broken by the open slavecircuit which has in series push button switch 45(b).

All of the push button switches are biased to closed position by springs(not shown). When a push button is depressed by the operator it travelsto an innermost position and closes one of the momentary contactswitches 51 to 55. As the push button is released by the operator thespring urges it toward closed position, but it is latched by a device(not shown) to hold it and maintain it in `an open position, so thatboth the momentary contact switch and push button switchare open, asillustrated by the full line position of switch 45(b) in FIGURE 1 of thedrawing.

In FIGURE l, each push button switch 41(b) to 4S (b) has a correspondingmomentary contact switch 51 to 55 vwhich is lclosed yfor a brief periodof time when its respective push button is manually depressed. Referringto'push button switch 45(b), there is illustrated in dotted lines theclosing of the momentary contact switch 55 which occurs when push button45(0) is manually depressed. The closing of any momentary contact switch51 to 55 energizes the advance motor by a circuit from power line L2through the closed switch, such as 55, thence through line 56, mastercam switch 4001), to terminal 3l). The other terminal 31 of the advancemotor is connected topower line L1.

`If at the closing of the momentary contact switch the master carnswitch 40(a) is open, the circuit for momentarily energizing the advancemotor 13 is completed through the slave switch I41(a) to 45(a) that isclosed at that instant and its corresponding preselection switch ,4l-(b)to 45(b). The rapid advance motor 13 is energized by the momentarycontact switch through the master cam switch, or one of the slaveswitches, as a safety feature, in order to discontinue energization ofthe rapid advance motor if the operator inadvertently keeps themomentary contact switch closed. It will be clear thattherapid advancemotor may be directly energized by thel momentary contact switch.

Although a separate momentary contact switch is shown for-each pushbutton alternative constructions may be employed. For example, amechanical connection may bemade with each push button, so that only asingle momentary contact switch is closed by the depression of any ofthe tive push buttons. namely, the advance motor is momentarilyenergized.

At the instant the advanceA motor is energized by the closing of amomentary contact switch through the depressionvof .a push button, therotor 14 is moved longitudinally to clutch pinion 19 to the gear trainof gear box 16, and at the same time closes contact 23 against contact22 of switch 21. This completes holding circuits by which the continuedenergization of the advance motor is under control of the selector camsdit to 4S and their respective circuitry, explained hereinabove.

Referring `now tofFlGURE 2 of the drawing which illustrates the mastercam 40, it will be noted that the cam maybe divided into sectionscorresponding to cycles of The result is the same,

l the automatic washing operation, since the selector cams, includingcam 49, are mounted on shaft 15 which drives the timing cam stack 10,the latter of which controls the cycles of the washing operation. Thevarious cycles are indicated by the dot and dash lines corresponding tothe washing operation controlled by the cam stack 1t). For example, `therst part of the washing operation begins with a fill and agitationperiod indicated by I which may continue to the dot and dash line pastII. This is followed by a soak period, a spin period, a rinse III, and afinal spin dry IV. While in previous devices the cycle desired wasselected by rotating the shaft on which the cams were mounted to theparticular position, in the present invention by merely depressing apush button, a momentary contact switch is closed which energizes a`rapid advance motor under the control of the selector cams andautomatically advances the cam stack to the desired cycle I, II, III, orIV. The push buttons have legends corresponding to the desired cycles.The master cam 40 has a dwell period for opening the master cam switchfor a short interval of time at the Ibeginning of each desired cycle, asindicated at I, Il, III, IV, and V in FIG- URE 2. It will be noted thatthe dwell at I, for instance, would start the washing operation at theearliest point and allow it to proceed for the maximum time. Theselection of II for delicate fabrics starts the washing operation at theend of the timed period for short agitation period and then allows thewashing operation to proceed to the remaining cycles. Similarly, ifrinse III is selected, the cams are advanced by the rapid advance motorto that point and then the timer motor drives the cam stack 10 throughthe remaining cycles. The washing cycle is ended for regular fabrics atolf-l at which the power supply is interrupted by a switch in the cam`stack 11i' (not shown). For wash and wear fabrics V, a separate sectionof the cams is devoted to their washing operation, the start of which isindicated by (V) and the end at oil-2.

From the foregoing, the operation of the timing control device should beapparent. As shown in FIGURE l of the drawing, the cam stack 10 isdriven through all the cycles of the washing operation by the timermotor 12. The timer motor 12 is energized by power line L1 to timermotor terminal 31, and by power line L2 through switch contacts 23, 24to timer motor terminal 34.

Let it be assumed that it is desired to wash the wash and wear type'offabric. The clothes are inserted in lthe machine (not shown) and thepush button 45(c) is manually depressed to the dotted line positionindicated in FIGURE l which closes the momentary contacts 55. Thisenergizes the rapid advance motor by a circuit from power line L2through momentary contact switch 55 and cam switch 40(a) to the advancemotor terminal 30. The other terminal 31 of the advance motor isconnected to power line L1.

Upon energization of the advance motor by the momentary contact switch,the rotor 14 is moved longitudinally against the bias of spring 18 toengage clutch pinion 19 with the gear train in box 16 to rapidly rotatethe shaft 15 on which is mounted the timer motor, selector cams, and thetiming cam stack 10. Axial movement of the armature rotor 14 toward thegear box 16 separates contact 23 from contact 24 in switch 21 tode-energize the timer motor. At the same time switch contact 23 engagescontact 22 to maintain the rapid advance motor energized under thecontrol of the selector cams. Since the master cam switch 40(11) isnormally closed, the advance motor will keep rotating the cam stack 10at a high rate of speed until the circuit is broken. At the beginning ofeach desired cycle, the master cam switch 4002) is opened for a shortinterval of time. At the same interval, one of the slave cam switches isclosed to maintain a rapid advance motor energized, providing itscorresponding push button switch is closed. For ex ample, if the masterVcam switch has rotated to start point I'then the slave cam switch 4101)will be closed by cam41 and the timer motor will be operated by acircuit rfrom power line L2, switch contacts 23, 2'4, slave cam switch41(a) push button switch 41(b), to the advance motor terminal 30. If,however, switch 41(12) is opened by depression of the push button41(c)`the advance motor will be de-energized at that point in the cycle.But if the push button 41(b) is closed, the ad since push button 45 (c)was depressed the rapid advance motor operates until the master cam hasopened master cam switch 40(a) at point V. At this same interval theslave cam switch 45(a) is closed, however, the advance motor is notsupplied with power because of the broken circuit due to the opening ofthe push button switch 45(b). When the advance motor is de-energized,the armature rotor 14 is moved axially by spring 1S away from the gearbox to break contacts 22, 23 and make contacts 23, 24. This opens thecircuit to the advance motor and completes the circuit to the timermotor which then advances the timing cam stack through the washing cycleoperations remaining.

In the drawing and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specitc terms are employed,these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not forpurposes of limitation. Changes in form and the proportion of parts, aswell as the substitution of equivalents are contemplated, ascircumstances may suggest or render expedient, without departing fromthe spirit or scope of this invention as further detined in thefollowing claims.

I claimz- 1. In an automatic control for washing machines thecombination comprising a sequential timer including timing control meansfor controlling selectable cycles of operation and a timing motor fordriving said timing control means through the selected cycle at a slowspeed, a rapid advance means for advancing said timing control means ata high speed, manually operable momentary contact switch means, circuitmeans under the control of said momentary contact switch means toinitiate operation of said rapid advance means for a short period,manually operable preselection means for choosing a desired cycle, camswitches operable by said rapid advance means,

holding circuit means for maintaining said rapid advance means energizedunder the control of said cam switches and said manually operablepreselection means after ksaid momentary contact switch means has beenoperated.

2. In an automatic control for washing machines the combinationcomprising a sequential timer including timing control means forcontrolling selectable cycles of operation and a timing motor fordriving said timing control means through the selected cycle at a slowspeed, a rapid advance mechanism for advancing said timing control meansat a high speed, manually operable preselection means for registering adesired cycle, preselection switches controlled by said preselectionmeans, momentary contactswitch means operable by saidpreselection means,cam switches controlled by said rapid advance mechanism, circuit meansunder the control of said momentary contact switch means to initiateoperation of said rapid advance mechanism for a short period, andholding circuit means having said cam switches and said preselectionswitches for maintaining said rapid advance mechanism energized underthe direct control of said cam switches after said momentary contactswitch means has been operated. y y

3. In an automatic control for washing machines the combinationcomprising a sequential timer including a timing control means forcontrolling selectable cycles of operation and timing motor for drivingsaid timing control means through the selected cycle at a `slow speed, arapid advance mechanism for advancing said timing control means at ahigh speed, a plurality of preselectiony buttonsimanually operable tochoose a desired cycle, momentary contact switch means operable by saidpreselection buttons, circuit means under the control of said momentarycontact switch means to initiate operation of said rapid advancemechanism for a short period, preselection switches controlled by saidpreselection buttons, cam switches operable by said rapid advancemechanism, and holding circuit means for maintaining said rapid advancemechanism energized under the control of said cam switches in serieswith said preselection switches after said momentary contact `switchmeans has been operated until the rapid advance mechanism has rotatedsaid sequential timer to the cycler registered by a pre# selectionswitch.

4. In anpautomatic control for washing machines the combinationcomprising a sequential timer including time ing control means forcontrolling selectable cycles of operation and a timing motor fordriving said timing control means through the selected cycle at a slowspeed, a plurality of manually operablefpreselection members to choose adesired cycle, a rapid advance means for advancing said timing controlmeans at a high speed, momentary contact switch means operable by saidpreselection members, circuit means under the control of said momentarycontact switch means to initiate operation of said rapid advance meansfor a short period, and holding circuit means for maintaining said rapidadvance means energized after said momentary contact switch means hasbeen operated, and cam switch means for placing said holding 'circuitmeans successively and separately under the control of each of saidpreselection members, whereby the rapid advance means is energized untila cycle is reached at which the preselection member has been manuallyoperated in order to break the holding circuit and de-energize saidrapid advance means.

5. In an automatic control for washing machines the combinationcomprising a sequential timer including timing control means forcontrolling selectable cycles of operation and a timingr motor for`driving said timing control means through the selected cycle vat a slowspeed, a rapid advance means for advancing said -timing control means ata high speed, preselection buttons manually operable to choose ladesired cycle, preselection switches controlled by said buttons,momentary contact switch means operable by said preselection buttons,circuit means under the control of said momentary contact switch meansto initiate operation of said rapid' advance means for a short period,and holding circuit means for maintaining said rapid `advance meansenergized after said momentary contact switch means has been operated,and can switch means for successively placing said holding circuit meansunder the separate control of each of said preselection swi-tches atcertain points during operation whereby the rapid advance means, remainsenergized until a' cycle is reached at which the preselection switch hasbeen operated by a said preselection button.

6. In an automatic control for washing machines the combinationcomprising a sequential timer having a timing control means forcontrolling selectable cycles of operation and a timing motor fordriving said timing control means through the selected cycle at a slowspeed, a

rapid advance mechanism for advancing said timing con-k trol means at ahigh speed, manually operable preselection ymembers for choosing adesired cycle, normally. closed preselection switches opened by saidpreselection members upon manual operation, a momentary contact y lswitch means operable by said preselection members, cirp cuit meansunder the control of said momentary contact operation whereby the rapidadvance' mechanism remains energized until a preselection Vswitchlisreached which has been opened.

7. In an automatic control for washing machines the combinationcomprising a sequential timer having timing control means forcontrolling selectable cycles of operation and a timing motor Vfordriving said'timing control means through the selected cycle at a slowspeed, rapid advance means for advancing said timing control means at ahigh speed, manually operable preselection means for choosing a desiredcycle, rmomentary contact switch means operable by said preselectionmeans, circuit means under the control of said momentary contact switchmeans for initiating operation of said rapid advance means for a shortperiod, holding circuit means for maintaining said rapid advance meansenergized after said momentary contact switch means has initiatedoperation, switch means for energizing said holding circuit means aftersaid momentary contact switch means has been operated, master cam switchmeans for breaking said holding circuit means a vshort time period `atthe beginning of each selectable cycle, and slave cam circuit means inparallel to said master` cam means for maintaining said rapid advancemeans energized when said master cam switch means breaks said holdingcircuit means until the desired cycle registered by manual preselectionmeans has been reached.

8. In an automatic control for washing machines the combinationcomprising a sequential timer having timing control means for`controlling selectable cycles of operation and a timing motor fordriving said timing control means through the selected cycle at a slowspeed, rapid advance means for advancing said timing control means at ahigh speed, manually operable preselection means for choosing a desiredcycle, momentary contact switch means operable by said preselectionmeans, circuit means under the control of said momentary Contact switchmeans for initiating operation of said rapid advance means `for a shortperiod, holding circuit means for maintaining said rapid advance meansenergized after said momentary contact switch means has initiatedoperation, switch means for energizing said holding circuit means aftersaid momentary contact switch means has been operated, cam switch meansincluding master cam switch means for breaking said holding circuitmeans a short time period vat the beginning of each desired cycle andslave cam switch means under the control of said preselection meansand'in parallel to said master cam means for maintaining said rapidadvance means energized when said master cam means breaks said holdingcircuit means until the desired cycle registered by manual preselectionmeans has been reached.

9. In an automatic control for washing machines the combinationcomprising a sequential timer having timing control means forcontrolling selectablecyclesof 'opera tion and `a timing motor fordriving said timing-control means through the selected cycle at a Vslowspeed, rapid advancve means for advancingsaid timing controlmeans at ahigh speed, manually operable preselection means for choosing a desiredcycle, momentary contact switch means operable by said preselectionmeans, circuit means under the Vcontrol of said momentary contact switchmeans yfor initiating operation of said rapid advance means for a shortperiod, selector cam switch means, holding circuit means for maintainingsaid rapid advance means energized under the control of said selectorcam switch means and said manual preselection means after said momentarycontact switch means has initiated operation, switch means forenergizing said holding circuit means after said momentary contactswitch means has `,been operated, said selector cam switch meansincluding first master cam switch means forbreaking a circuit to saidrapid advance means and said holding circuit means a short time periodat the beginning of the selectable cycles and second cam switch means inparallel to said irst cam switch means for maintaining said rapidadvance means and holding circuit means energized when said master camswitch means breaks until the desired cycle registered by manualpreselection means has been reached.

10. In an automatic control for washing machines the combinationcomprising a sequential timer having timing control means forcontrolling selectable cycles of operation and a timing motor fordriving said timing control means through the selected cycle at a slowspeed, rapid advance means for advancing said timing control means at ahigh speed, manually operable preselection means for choosing a desiredcycle, momentary contact switch means operable bysaid preselectionmeans, circuit means under the control of said momentary contact switchmeans for initiating operation of said rapid advance meansvfor a shortperiod, selector cam switch means, holding circuit means for maintainingsaid rapid advance means energized after said momentary contact Vswitchmeans Ahas initiated operation, switch means in said holding circuitmeans for energizing said holding circuit means yafter. s aid momentaryContact switch means has been operated, cam switch meansoperable by saidrapid advance means for successively placing said holding circuit meansandrapid advance means under the control ofsaid manually operablepreselection means .to maintain saidrapid advance means energized untilthe desired cycle registered -by manually operable preselection meanshas beenreached.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED VSTATES PATENTS

